Frame support for drop ceiling construction



Oct. 28, 1958 A. E. ZINGONE I FRAME SUPPORT FOR DROP CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 7, 1956 I v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 miilill tlziilmkiifll lllill INVENTOR.

i 1 v 2 43 #44 2/ 02 BY ANTHONY E. ZINGONE A. E. ZINGONE FRAME SUPPORT FOR DROP CEILING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ANTHONY E; ZINGONE ATTORNEYS;

United States Patent FRAME SUPPORT FOR DROP CEILING CONSTRUCTION Anthony E. Zingone, Massapequa, N. Y., assignor to Neo-Ray Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York I Application June 7, 1956, Serial No. 589,964

4 Claims. c1. 20-4 This invention relates to a drop ceiling construction and has particular reference to a frame support therefor.

The invention comprehendsa frame support which is suspended from overhead framework in spaced relation from the ceiling and which removably supports a plurality of rectangular shaped panels covering the entire ceiling or any part thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide a frame support consisting of a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending rows of frame members arranged with the frame members in each row disposed in end to end overlapping relation and with the longitudinally and transversely extending rows constructed, to interfit at the overlapping ends to provide rigid and strong connections therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide frame members which may be prefabricated and interfitted for securing the same together when erected so as to facilitate the erection of the frame support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame support in which each of the frame members include a vertically disposed web with longitudinally extending wall portions on each side having inturned upper ends providing ledges for supporting rectangular shaped panels and in which the webs of the longitudinally and transversely extending frame members are complementary' notched at their ends for interfitting engagement.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a drop ceiling embodying a frame support constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary under side view of the drop ceiling showing a plurality of panels supported by the frame support.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view showing a fragmentary portion of longitudinally and transversely extending frame members forming the frame support in interfitted relation at an intersection.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the frame members shown in Fig. 5 disposed in separated juxtaposition.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a modified form of the longitudinally and transversely extending frame members disposed in separated juxtaposition.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view on reduced scale of one of the longitudinally extending frame members shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view on reduced scale of one of the transversely extending frame members shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings.

- Referring to the drawings, the drop ceiling construcice tion is supported by hangers 10 from an overhead ceiling 11 and includes rectangular shaped panels 12 which are supported by a frame support 13. The frame support 13 consists of frame members 15 and 16 each arranged in end to end overlapping relation and disposed in a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending rows with the frame members 15 in the longitudinally extending rows interfitting with the frame members 16 in the transversely extending rows at the overlapped ends thereof. V

In the frame support shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, each of the longitudinally extending frame members 15 is made up of two channel shaped elements 17 and 18 having longitudinally extending vertical walls 19 and 20 respectively which are secured together in back to back formation providing a longitudinally extending web. Flaring outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the vertical walls are side walls 21 and 22 formed with inwardly directed flanges 23 and 24 forming longitudinally extending ledges on opposite sides of the web on which the panels 12 are supported along their longitudinal side edges. The channel shaped elements 17 and 18 are also formed with outwardly projecting longitudinally extending top wall portions 25 and 26 respectively having downturned flanges 27 and 28 disposed in overlapping relation with the panels and retaining the panels in position on the frame supports.

The top walls 25 and 26 terminate in spaced relation from the ends of the web. The side wall 21 together with the vertical wall 19 of the channel shaped element 17 are cut away at the right hand end as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, while the side wall 22 and the vertical wall 20 of the channel shaped element 18 are cut away at the left hand end as shown in said figure. The side wall 21 of the channel shaped element 17 is formed with a V-shaped recess 30 adjacent the left hand end thereof, while the side wall 22 of the channel shaped element 18 is similarly formed with a V-shaped recess 31 adjacent the right hand end thereof. Centrally of the said recesses the web is vertically slotted at each end as at 32 and provided with a tongue 33 at one side of the slot.

The transversely extending frame members 16' are similarly made up of two channel shaped elements 35 and 36 having longitudinally extending vertical'walls 37 and 38 respectively which are secured together in back to back formation providing a web extending longitudi nally of said channel shaped element. Flaring outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the vertical walls 37 and 38 are side walls 39 and 40 which are provided with inwardly directed flanges 41 and 42 forming ledges extending longitudinally of said element on opposite sides of the web on which the panels 12 are supported along their transverse side edges. The channel shaped elements 37 and 38 are also formed with outwardly projecting longitudinally extending top wall portions 43 and 44 respectively having downturned flanges 45 and 46.

The top wall portion 43 of the channel shaped element 35 as well as the vertical wall 37 thereof terminate in spaced relation from the right hand end of the vertical wall 38 as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, while the top wall 44 and the vertical wall 38 of the channel shaped element 36 terminate in spaced relation from the left hand end of the vertical wall 37 as shown in said figure. The vertical walls 37 and 38 at the left and right hand ends respectively are prolonged into tongues 45 having slots 46 extending upwardly from the lower edges thereof which are adapted to interfit with the slot 32 in the web of the frame members 15.

ln assembling the frame members 15 and 16, a plurality of frame members 15 are arranged in end to end overlapping relation and in a sufficient number of rows toform-the frame support for the desired area of'the di'op ceiling. Adjacent frame members are disposed with the slots 32 in the overlapped ends in registry and with the slots in each of the rows registering with the slots in the other rows. This positions the V shaped recesses and 31 in registry in the several rows at the overlapped ends. The frame members 16 are interfitted between the rows of frame members 15 with the slots 32 and. 46 interfitted at the overlapped ends of the frame members 15 so as to provide a plurality of rectangular shaped framed areas throughout the frame support. This positions the tongues of adjacent end to end frame members 16 in a slot 32 and with the tongues 45 extending into overlapped relation with the webs of the adjacent members respectively. This arrangement also positions the ends of the frame members 16 in snug engagement in the V shaped recesses 30 and 31 of adjacent rows of frame members 15. When in assem'bled' relation, the tongues 33 are bent into overlying relation with the tops of the tongues 45 for retaining the same in the slots 32. A panel 12 is supported on the-ledges defined by the flanges 23 and 24, and 41 and 42 in each of the framed areas throughout the frame support. The panels 12 may be of any desired material and may be light transmitting and of plane sheet formation or the same may be fluted or ribbed as shown in Figs. 3 and 4' of the drawings.

Instead of the longitudinally extending frame members 15, frame members may be provided for interfitting engagement with the transversely extending frame members 16 as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The frame members 50 are similarly formed of two channel shaped elements 51 and 52 having vertical walls 53 and 54 respectively and with inward directed flanges 55 and 56 at the upper ends of the side walls formingledges on which the panels 12 aresupported. The frame members- 50 are of similar formation at their ends, the side walls and the flanges 55 and 56being cut away in angular formation at their ends. The vertical wall 53 is cut in angular formation at one end as at 57, while at the opposite end the vertical wall 54 is similarly cut in angular formation as at 58f The vertical wall 53-is also cut away in angular formation as at 59 in spaced relation from the end. 58 of the vertical wall 54, while the vertical wall 54 is similarly cut: away as at 60 in spaced relation from the end- 57 of the vertical wall 53 whereby adjacent frame members are adapted to be disposed in end to end overlappingrelation similar to the overlapping arrangement of the end walls of the frame members 15 in the previous form of the invention. Slots 60 and 61 are formed in the ends of the frame members which align. with the slots in adjacent frame members.

Thus the longitudinally and transversely extending nected with angle iron members 65 at their upper ends and at the lower ends the hangers are affixed to slide clamps 66 which engage beneath the flanges of the top walls of the frame members as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The angle iron members 65 are bolted or otherwise secured to overhead framework in the ceiling.

While the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is not so limited but shall cover and include any and all modifications of the invention which fall within the purview thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A frame support for a drop ceiling construction consisting'of a plurality of parallel rows of frame members extending in one direction and. including a plurality of frame members in each row arranged in end tov end overlapping relation, a plurality of parallel rows of frame members extending in a direction in angular relation to the aforesaid rows and including a plurality of frame members in each row arranged in endto end overlapping relation, said frame members in said first and second mentioned rows having registering slots in the overlapped ends thereof respectively, said overlapped ends of the first and second mentioned fows being disposed in intersecting relation in the slots in the second and first mentioned rows respectively, thereby forming a plurality of framed areas throughout the extent of said support, certain of said frame members having tongues bent into overlying relation with the overlapped ends of the frame members intersecting therewith, and said frame members having ledges on opposite sides thereof adapted to receive panels in supported relation thereon in said framed areas.

2'. A frame support for a drop ceiling construction consisting of a plurality of parallel rows of frame members extending in one direction and including a plurality of frame members in each row, a plurality of parallel rows of frame members extending in a direction in right angular relation with the aforesaid rows and including a plurality of frame members in each row, each of said frame members consisting of two channel shaped elements having longitudinally extending walls secured together in back to back relation and arranged with at least one of said walls of adjacent frame members disposed in end to end overlapping relation, said frame member in said first and second mentioned rows having registering slots in the overlapped ends thereof respectively, said overlapped ends of the first and second mentioned rows being disposed in intersecting relation in the slots in the second and first mentioned rows respectively, thereby forming a plurality of framed areas throughout the extent of said support, certain of said frame members having tongues bent into overlying relation with the overlapped ends of the frame members intersectingvtherewith, said channel shaped elements having side walls flaring outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of the first mentioned walls thereof and providing ledges at their upper ends adapted to receive panels in supporting relation thereon in said framed areas, and eachof said side Walls of the frame members in said first mentioned rows being formed with a V-shaped recess' adjacent one end thereof and being cut away atthe other endto thereby provide aligned V-shaped recesses at each of the overlapped ends of said first mentioned row of frame members for snugly receiving in. said V-shaped recesses the frame members of said second mentioned rows.

3. A frame support for a drop ceiling construction consisting of a plurality of parallel rows of frame members extending'in one direction and including a plurality of frame members in each row arranged in end to end overlapping relation, a plurality of parallel rows of frame members extending in a direction in angular relation to the aforesaid rows and including a plurality of frame members in each row arranged in end to end overlapping relation,, said' frame members in said first and second mentioned'rows having registering slots in the overlapped ends thereof respectively, said overlapped ends of the first and second mentioned rows being disposed in intersecting relation in the slots in the second and first mentioned rows respectively, thereby forming a plurality of framed areas throughout the extent of said support, means closing. the ends of the slots in the overlapped ends of the frame members of one of said rows for securing the overlapped ends of the frame members of the other rowsin intersecting relation, and said frame members having ledges on opposite sides therof adapted to receive panels in supported relation thereon in said framed areas.

4. A frame support for a drop ceiling construction consisting ofa plurality-of parallel rows of frame members extending in one. direction and including a plural ity of frame members? in row, a plurality of parallel rows of frame members extendingin a direction in right angula'r relation with the aforesaid rows and including a plurality of frame members inteach row, eachof said? frame members consisting of two channel shaped elements'having longitudinally extending walls secured together in back to back relation and arranged with at least one of said walls of adjacent frame members disposed in end to end overlapping relation, said frame members in said first and second mentioned rows having registering slots in the overlapped ends thereof respectively, said overlapped .ends of the first and second mentioned rows being disposed in intersecting relation in the slots in the second and first mentioned rows respectively, thereby forming a plurality of framed areas throughout the extent of said support, means closing the ends of the slots in the overlapped ends of the frame members of one of said rows for securing the overlapped endsof the frame members of the other rows in intersecting relation, said channel shaped elements having side walls flaring out wardly and upwardly from the bottom of the first mentioned walls thereof and providing ledges at their upper ends adapted to receive panels in supported relation thereon in said framed areas, and said side walls of the frame members of said first and second mentioned rows being formed at the ends thereof for interfitting relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,525,726 Roper Oct. 10, 1950 2,535,263 Budne Dec. 26, 1950 2,672,658 Pederson Mar. 23, 1954 

